Comcast Reports Revenue Increase

Comcast Corp. said third-quarter profit rose 4.7 percent as the largest U.S. cable company lost fewer TV customers than anticipated and added broadband subscribers.

The most pleasant surprise was the loss of just 165,000 cable-TV subscribers. The year-ago loss had been 275,000, and Wall Street analysts projected a drain of 180,000 to 200,000. Comcast added 261,000 broadband Internet subscribers, topping the 230,000 average estimate of 10 analysts.

Nine months after Comcast took over majority ownership in NBC Universal from General Electric, renaming it NBCUniversal, the acquisition appears to have had mixed impact on earnings.